White House rubbishes N Korea threat against bombers

North Korea's foreign minister has accused US President Donald Trump of declaring war on his country and said Pyongyang has the right to shoot down US bombers.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho. Photo: AFP

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said they could shoot the the warplanes down even if they were not in North Korea's airspace.

The White House dismissed the statement as "absurd" and the Pentagon warned Pyongyang to stop provocations.

Mr Ri's comments were a response to Mr Trump's tweet that Mr Ri and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would not "be around much longer" if they continued their rhetoric.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country," Mr Ri told reporters as he was leaving New York, where he had addressed the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make counter-measures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country."

Photo: AFP

In his fiery speech on Saturday, Mr Ri had described Mr Trump as a "mentally deranged person full of megalomania" on a "suicide mission", which drew a response from the US president on Twitter.

Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!